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‘Bendy’ wych elm in Northern Ireland wins Tree of the Year contest

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Cite

Speare-Cole, R. (2026, October 7). ‘Bendy’ wych elm in Northern Ireland wins Tree of the Year contest. Evening Standard. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/environment/tree-northern-ireland-newcastle-loch-lomond-east-sussex-b1299958.html

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Evening Standard · collected 2026-10-07 · by Rebecca Speare-Cole

Quick Summary

The wych elm in County Down, Northern Ireland, has been named the Tree of the Year by the Woodland Trust after surviving coastal winds and Dutch elm disease for over 150 years. From July to September, tens of thousands voted in an annual contest where each tree had overcome some adversity; the Bendy Tree received 30% of votes and will now represent the UK in next year’s European Tree of the Year finals.
Written by AI on 2026-10-07, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

The Bendy Tree, a wych elm located in Newcastle, County Down, Northern Ireland, has been named the winner of the Woodland Trust's annual Tree of the Year competition. The tree, which is more than 150 years old, survived severe coastal winds that caused its trunk to grow nearly horizontal and Dutch elm disease that devastated most of the UK’s 30 million elms in the mid-20th century. Over tens of thousands of people voted for their favorite tree from a shortlist of 10 trees during a public poll from July to September, with the Bendy Tree receiving 30% of the votes. The competition highlighted trees that have endured significant adversity, making the Bendy Tree's survival particularly notable. As the first ever winner from Northern Ireland, it will now represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year finals next year.

Written for “Bendy Elm Wins Tree Of Year Contest” on 2026-11-03, grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Bendy Elm Wins Tree Of Year Contest
Environment · 3 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 6% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
Evening Standard
Hedges 1 of 19 claims Outlet record 64/100
The Guardian
Hedges 2 of 20 claims Outlet record 66/100
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
17
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
6%
1 of 17 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
64/100
Evening Standard's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
3
Environment
Same framing elsewhere
2
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-10-07 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

Evening Standard · 8234 article(s) · 73 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 73 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Rebecca Speare-Cole
8 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
🔮 Ms Townend said the Environment Agency will continue to closely monitor the situation while implementing Yorkshire’s drought plan.
🔮 Ms Townend said the Environment Agency will continue to closely monitor the situation while implementing Yorkshire’s drought plan.
🔮 Ms Townend said the Environment Agency will continue to closely monitor the situation while implementing Yorkshire’s drought plan.
🔮 “Even if we receive a few weeks of rain, we cannot quickly reverse the effects of the lack of rainfall during a very dry spring and summer.” Ms Townend said the Environment Agency will continue to closely monitor the situation while implementing Yorkshire’s drought plan.
🔮 As the winner, the Bendy Tree will represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year finals next year.
🔮 As the winner, the Bendy Tree will represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year finals next year.
🔮 Production across Fintea’s five cooperatives fell by 30% in May and June this year compared to what their farmers usually harvest during those months, he said. “It is very serious.” In January, an unprecendented hail storm damaged thousands of tea plants in the district of Kabartegan, with Fintea estimating losses of 20,000 to 30,000kg daily over four months as the plants recovered. Lilian Mutai Levin Langot, from the village of Kesebet, was among some 500 tea farmers who lost significant earnings when the storm wiped out her farm.
🔮 Production across Fintea’s five cooperatives fell by 30% in May and June this year compared to what their farmers usually harvest during those months, he said.
Also by Rebecca Speare-Cole
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
All 8 articles by Rebecca Speare-Cole →

Topics

County Down Dutch Northern Ireland the Woodland Trust the Woodland Trust’s

Subjects

Dutch NORP · 2× the Woodland Trust ORG · 2× the Woodland Trust’s ORG · 2× County Down GPE · 1× County Durham GPE · 1× Culmstock Village GPE · 1× Devon GPE · 1× Newcastle GPE · 1× Northern Ireland GPE · 1× Oasis ORG · 1×

Narrative

Others included the 150-year-old Balloch Castle ash, standing on the lawn of the semi-derelict castle by Loch Lomond, which has experienced a lightning strike, multiple storms, ash dieback, footfall from millions of visitors, and an Oasis concert.
framing: assertive · carried by 2 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-07
🔮 As the winner, the Bendy Tree will represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year finals next year.
2026-10-07 · Evening Standard
‘Bendy’ wych elm in Northern Ireland wins Tree of the Year contest · assertive framing
2026-10-08 · Evening Standard
‘Bendy’ wych elm in Northern Ireland wins Tree of the Year contest · assertive framing

Claims (17 extracted, 1 hedged)

The wych elm in County Down is the first ever tree in Northern Ireland to be crowned the winner of the Woodland Trust’s annual competition. asserted
elm → crown → competition
Tens of thousands of people voted for their favourite tree in a public poll that ran from July to September, choosing from a shortlist of 10 trees. asserted
that → vote → trees
Each one had survived some kind of adversity in line with this year’s theme: “Against all odds”. asserted
one → survive → odds
A much-loved feature of Newcastle’s seaside promenade, the Bendy Tree has weathered extreme coastal gusts – apparent from its horizontal trunk – for more than 150 years. asserted
Tree → love → years
The tree was planted as part of a row of wych elms along the town’s original promenade around the mid-19th century but is now the last one standing after many were felled during redevelopments in the 1980s. asserted
many → plant → 1980s
It has also survived Dutch elm disease – a fungus that destroyed most of the UK’s 30 million elms during its second outbreak across the country after it was accidentally imported from North America in the 1960s. asserted
it → survive → 1960s
The tree, whose canopy casts shade for locals who can sit on the town centre bench underneath its branches, received 30% of public votes, the Woodland Trust said. asserted
Trust → cast → votes
A different plucky yew – Culmstock Yew in Devon – was shortlisted because of its location after growing at the top of the church tower overlooking Culmstock Village for some 200 years. asserted
yew → shortlist → years
Others included the 150-year-old Balloch Castle ash, standing on the lawn of the semi-derelict castle by Loch Lomond, which has experienced a lightning strike, multiple storms, ash dieback, footfall from millions of visitors, and an Oasis concert. asserted
which → include → visitors
Read More The Bollihope Burn Birch in County Durham is perched precariously off a cliff in an area once dominated by industry, quarries, lime kilns, mines and a goods railway. asserted
Birch → read → industry
And the “Preston Twin” in Brighton – likely the world’s oldest English elm – has lived four centuries despite the threat of Dutch elm disease, which killed another specimen of the same age that stood nearby. asserted
that → live → age
As the winner, the Bendy Tree will represent the UK in the European Tree of the Year finals next year. asserted
Tree → represent → finals
May Chemais, ancient tree inventory lead for the Woodland Trust, said: “When you look at this astonishing and bizarre tree, there’s no doubt about what it has endured. “We’ve all been through changes and hardships that have shaped who we are: I think that’s why the Bendy Tree has struck a chord with people. uncertain
Tree → say → people
“Older trees like this one are providing our communities with so much – from shade, wellbeing and health benefits, to stories, culture and pride of place.” asserted
trees → provide → place
She encouraged members of the public who are inspired to protect ancient and veteran trees in their area to add them to the Woodland Trust’s ancient tree inventory or to donate to the organisation. asserted
who → encourage → organisation
Laura Chow, head of charities at Postcode Lottery, which supported the competition, said: “Tree of the Year shines a light on the remarkable trees that stand at the heart of our communities, each with a story that deserves to be told. asserted
that → support → story
“Our players are supporting a competition that celebrates the special connection people have with the nature and heritage on their doorstep.” asserted
people → support → doorstep
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